FONT

SHARE THIS

MORE STORIES

Short List

Events and happenings taking place in the next week in Portland and surrounding areas - including 'Beirut,' Rock Cats Rescue and Vanport Mosaic Festival

STAGE

'School of Rock — The Musical'

Reminder: It should be a rockin' good time as the Andrew Lloyd Webber smash Broadway hit stages in Portland. It's based on the 2003 film of the same name (starring Jack Black); it follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. But he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, mind-blowing rock band, and while teaching the kids to rock, he falls for the school's headmistress, helping her find the wild child within.

Beirut in PDX presents the Alan Bowne dystopian stunner about love in the plague years. Previews are May 23 and 24. It was originally written in response to the AIDS epidemic, and it's a classic and timely tale of how far society will go when gripped with fear and the possibility of death.

It's cute cats doing tricks in "The Amazing Acro-Cats Pounce on Portland." It features Samantha Martin and her Acro-Cats — rescued cats — performing new feats and stunts in a two-hour show. It's accompanied by an eight-piece band that includes Buggles on trumpet and Oz on saxophone (they're cats, of course).

Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy are among the cast members in a live and interactive show, which uses clips, behind-the-scenes footage, stories and some surprises to tell the story of a wealthy family that suddenly finds itself broke and forced to live in Schitt's Creek, a small town they once bought as a joke. It also stars Catherine O'Hara and Chris Elliott.

Reminder: The Rose Festival is starting, and Pioneer Courthouse Square is getting in on the fun with the 20,000-strong display of roses showing through June 4. There'll be live music at noon on some days, and a flower sale at the end. For more: www.thesquarepdx.org.

Willamette Valley wineries — about 130 of them — will open their doors for tastings and tours during Memorial Weekend in the Wine Country, Saturday-Monday, May 25-27. For info: www.willamettewines.com.

Vanport Mosaic Festival

The festival of exhibits, documentary screenings, tours, theater and dialogue continues through June 5 at various venues, including 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, May 27, at Expo Center, 2060 N. Marine Drive. For complete info: www.vanportmosaic.org.

Oregon Trail Rally

A heads-up: The on- and off-road event takes place in Dufur and Hood River, and also Portland International Raceway, May 31-June 2; it's at PIR on Friday, May 31. For more: www.oregontrailrally.com.

Quality local journalism takes time and money, which comes, in part, from paying readers. If you enjoy articles like this one, please consider supporting us. (It costs just a few cents a day.)